Loading...
// EXCESS FLOOD INSURANCE
Excess Flood Insurance in Baton Rouge
NFIP caps building coverage at $250,000. If it would cost more than that to rebuild your home, you're carrying the rest of that risk yourself. Excess flood closes the gap and can add coverages NFIP doesn't offer at all.
When NFIP Limits Aren't Enough for Your Baton Rouge Home
NFIP's maximum building coverage is $250,000 for residential properties. That limit was set years ago, and Baton Rouge rebuild costs have climbed well past that number in many neighborhoods. If your home would cost $350K, $400K, or more to rebuild, an NFIP policy alone would leave you covering the difference out of pocket after a major flood.
Excess flood insurance adds a second layer of coverage on top of your NFIP policy. When NFIP pays out its maximum, the excess policy kicks in to cover the rest. But it's not just more of the same. Excess flood also lets you add optional primary coverages that NFIP doesn't offer: temporary living expenses if your home is uninhabitable, replacement cost on your contents, coverage for detached structures, and more.
For homeowners who want to keep their NFIP policy (especially those with grandfathered or subsidized rates), excess flood is the way to get the coverage you actually need without giving up the NFIP pricing you already have.
// WHAT'S COVERED
What Excess Flood Insurance Covers
Additional Building Coverage
Adds building coverage above your NFIP policy's $250,000 limit. Excess flood carriers can offer up to $7 million in additional dwelling coverage. If it would cost $400K to rebuild your home, excess flood covers the $150K gap NFIP leaves behind.
Additional Contents Coverage
Extends your contents coverage above NFIP's $100,000 limit, with excess carriers offering up to $500,000 in additional contents protection. If your furniture, electronics, and belongings are worth more than $100K, excess flood picks up where NFIP stops.
$0 Deductible
The excess portion of your policy can come with a $0 deductible. Your NFIP policy handles the first layer of coverage with its own deductible. When NFIP pays out its maximum and the excess kicks in, there's no additional deductible to pay.
Optional Primary Coverages
This is where excess flood gets interesting. Along with higher limits, you can add coverages that NFIP doesn't offer at all: temporary living expenses, replacement cost on contents, unattached structures, pool repair, and loss of rental income.
Unattached Structures
Excess flood can add separate coverage for detached garages, sheds, workshops, and other structures on your property. NFIP includes other structures within your building limit, but excess carriers can offer them as a separate limit up to $100,000.
10-Day Waiting Period
Excess flood policies can have a waiting period as short as 10 days, compared to NFIP's standard 30. And like NFIP, there's no waiting period at all when the policy is tied to a real estate closing.
Why Baton Rouge Homeowners Trust Chabert for Excess Flood
A lot of homeowners don't even know excess flood insurance exists. Their agent set them up with NFIP years ago, and nobody mentioned that the $250K cap might not be enough. As home values in Baton Rouge have risen, that gap has gotten bigger for a lot of people.
We work with multiple excess flood carriers, so we can compare rates and coverage options. Not every excess policy is the same. Some offer $0 deductibles on the excess portion. Some let you add temporary living expenses, replacement cost on contents, or coverage for detached structures. We help you pick the right combination without paying for things you don't need.
We also help you decide whether excess flood on top of NFIP makes more sense than switching to a private flood policy with higher built-in limits. If you have a subsidized NFIP rate, keeping NFIP and adding excess is usually the smarter play. If you don't, a single private policy might be simpler and cheaper. We can lay both options side by side.
If your home floods, call your NFIP carrier's claims line first. They handle the primary layer. Once NFIP pays out its limit, the excess carrier picks up the rest. If you need help coordinating between the two policies or understanding what's covered, call us at (225) 395-4000.
Get Your Excess Flood Quote
Or call (225) 395-4000 to talk to a local agent.
// HOW IT WORKS
How Excess Flood Stacks on Top of NFIP
Excess flood is designed to sit on top of your existing NFIP policy. Here's what that looks like in practice:
Your NFIP policy pays first
NFIP covers the first $250,000 in building damage and the first $100,000 in contents damage, subject to your NFIP deductible. This is your primary layer.
Excess kicks in above NFIP's limits
If the damage exceeds what NFIP covers, the excess policy picks up the rest, up to whatever limit you've chosen. The excess portion can come with a $0 deductible, so there's nothing additional to pay out of pocket.
Optional coverages fill NFIP's gaps
Along with higher limits, you can add optional primary coverages that NFIP doesn't include: temporary living expenses (up to $50,000), replacement cost on contents, unattached structures (up to $100,000), pool repair (up to $20,000), and loss of rental income (up to $20,000).
Example: a $400K home
Say it would cost $400,000 to rebuild your home. NFIP covers the first $250,000. An excess policy covers the remaining $150,000. You can also add temporary living expenses so you have somewhere to stay during repairs, and replacement cost on your contents so NFIP's depreciation doesn't leave you short.
Excess Flood Insurance FAQ
Excess flood insurance adds coverage above the limits of your NFIP policy. NFIP caps building coverage at $250,000 and contents at $100,000. If it would cost more than that to rebuild your home or replace your belongings, excess flood covers the gap. It also lets you add coverages NFIP doesn't offer, like temporary living expenses and replacement cost on contents.
Anyone whose home would cost more than $250,000 to rebuild or whose belongings exceed the $100,000 contents limit should consider it. In Baton Rouge, where many homes would cost $300K to $500K or more to rebuild, that includes a lot of homeowners. For more on how flood zone and home value affect your options, see our breakdown of flood insurance costs in Louisiana.
Excess flood premiums vary based on your home's rebuild cost, flood zone, location, and how much additional coverage you need. Because it sits above your NFIP policy (which handles the first layer of risk), excess flood is typically less expensive per dollar of coverage than your primary policy. The excess portion can also come with a $0 deductible, which keeps your out-of-pocket costs down.
Yes. Excess flood is designed to work on top of your NFIP policy. Your NFIP policy pays first, up to its limits ($250K building, $100K contents). If the damage exceeds those limits, the excess policy kicks in to cover the rest. For more on what NFIP covers by itself, see our NFIP flood insurance page.
Yes, and this is one of the biggest advantages of excess flood. Along with higher limits, you can add optional primary coverages like temporary living expenses, replacement cost on your contents, coverage for unattached structures, pool repair, and loss of rental income. These fill the gaps NFIP leaves. For a full comparison of what NFIP does and doesn't cover, read our guide on what flood insurance covers.
It depends on your situation. If you have a grandfathered NFIP policy with subsidized rates, keeping NFIP and adding excess on top is usually the better move, because switching to private flood means you could lose that pricing if you ever need to come back. If you don't have a subsidized NFIP policy, a private flood policy with higher built-in limits might be simpler and cheaper than carrying two policies. We can compare both approaches for your property.
Still have questions? Call (225) 395-4000 or get your free quote.
Flood Insurance Guides & Resources
Explore our latest articles to learn more about flood insurance in Louisiana.
Flood Insurance
NFIP vs. Private Flood Insurance in Louisiana: An Honest Comparison
NFIP vs. private flood insurance in Louisiana: see how they compare on cost, coverage limits, waiting periods, and which option makes more sense for your home.
Flood Insurance
How Much Does Flood Insurance Cost in Louisiana?
How much is flood insurance in Louisiana? Most homeowners pay $826 to $1,470 per year depending on flood zone and carrier. See costs by city and parish.
Flood Insurance
What Does Flood Insurance Cover (and What Doesn't It)?
What does flood insurance cover? Building structure, contents, and more. But some common items aren't covered at all. Here's what to know in Louisiana.
Related Coverage
Excess flood sits on top of your NFIP policy, extending coverage beyond what the federal program allows. If you're not sure whether excess flood or a standalone private flood policy is the better fit, we can compare both options for your home. And remember, your homeowners policy doesn't cover flood damage at all. That's why these policies exist.
